Sports Card after 1945
1952 Fame for Topps and Mantle
2018 SOLD for $ 2.9M including premium
1952 starts very well for Topps and quite bad for Mickey Mantle.
The New York Yankees' great prospect, highlighted in early 1951 as Joe DiMaggio's designated successor, had finally made a dull season. After being downgraded to the Minor League, he returned to the Major League but suffered a severe injury to his right knee in an action with DiMaggio.
His father who was also his mentor dies on May 7, 1952 at the age of 40 of a blood disease. It was not known at the time that his illness was lead poisoning developed when mining. The young Mickey who is psychologically fragile believes in a hereditary curse. On July 8 Mickey is selected for the All-Star Game as an outfielder but left in reserve.
At the instigation of Sy Berger the bubble gum brand Topps makes a sensational entry into the edition of baseball cards. After a first trial in 1951, Topps launches in 1952 an extensive series with sharp pictures, pretty colors and a pleasantly didactic inscription on the back.
The printing of the 1952 series is made in several batches including the gradual selection of additional players. Mantle's omission in the first 310 players is probably due to his poor start of the season. When he becomes the first of the final 311-407, it is too late. The 1952 season is already well underway and Topps is slowing down the distribution to prepare for 1953 with suitably updated information.
An excellent participation at the beginning of October in the World Series launches the career of Mickey Mantle in a sustainable way. Although 1952 is not his rookie year, the rare Topps 1952-311 will become the most desirable of the modern baseball cards.
At the top of the scale PSA ranked three cards as Gem Mint 10 and six as Mint 9. None has been auctioned for more than a decade. One of the Mint 9 is estimated $ 3.5M by Heritage online from Dallas on April 19 plus extended bidding, lot 80477. With its bright colors and excellent centering this card excites the experts. The reason why it did not obtain the Gem Mint 10 grade is not revealed in the catalog.
Please watch the video shared by Heritage.
The New York Yankees' great prospect, highlighted in early 1951 as Joe DiMaggio's designated successor, had finally made a dull season. After being downgraded to the Minor League, he returned to the Major League but suffered a severe injury to his right knee in an action with DiMaggio.
His father who was also his mentor dies on May 7, 1952 at the age of 40 of a blood disease. It was not known at the time that his illness was lead poisoning developed when mining. The young Mickey who is psychologically fragile believes in a hereditary curse. On July 8 Mickey is selected for the All-Star Game as an outfielder but left in reserve.
At the instigation of Sy Berger the bubble gum brand Topps makes a sensational entry into the edition of baseball cards. After a first trial in 1951, Topps launches in 1952 an extensive series with sharp pictures, pretty colors and a pleasantly didactic inscription on the back.
The printing of the 1952 series is made in several batches including the gradual selection of additional players. Mantle's omission in the first 310 players is probably due to his poor start of the season. When he becomes the first of the final 311-407, it is too late. The 1952 season is already well underway and Topps is slowing down the distribution to prepare for 1953 with suitably updated information.
An excellent participation at the beginning of October in the World Series launches the career of Mickey Mantle in a sustainable way. Although 1952 is not his rookie year, the rare Topps 1952-311 will become the most desirable of the modern baseball cards.
At the top of the scale PSA ranked three cards as Gem Mint 10 and six as Mint 9. None has been auctioned for more than a decade. One of the Mint 9 is estimated $ 3.5M by Heritage online from Dallas on April 19 plus extended bidding, lot 80477. With its bright colors and excellent centering this card excites the experts. The reason why it did not obtain the Gem Mint 10 grade is not revealed in the catalog.
Please watch the video shared by Heritage.
1952 The Topps Card 1952-311
2016 SOLD for $ 1.13M including premium
2019 SOLD for $ 765K including premium
PRE 2019 SALE DISCUSSION
14 examples of the 1952 Topps baseball card # 311 have been graded NM-MT 8.5 + or better by PSA. One of them was sold for $ 1.13M including premium by Heritage on November 17, 2016, lot 50786. The same copy is now estimated $ 800K in the online sale ending on December 5 by Heritage, lot 51027.
I narrated it as follows in 2016 (2019 data included) :
The first part of the series of baseball cards published by Topps in 1952, numbers 1 to 310, inaugurated the modern style with a colorful and pleasant image and a good information on the back about the player.
Topps wanted to keep going but their extension of the 1952 series, numbers 311 to 407, was not released on suitable time. Their informations concerning the records of the players being already obsolete, the distribution was limited and the cards that remained unsold in the stock of the publisher were destroyed in mass a few years later.
The first card of this second part, bearing the number 311, maintains a high excitement in the hobby. It is not the earliest baseball card of Mickey Mantle but it may be considered as his rookie card.
Mickey Mantle is that young player who was iconic of the postwar American dream. Owning a high grade 1952-311 card is currently recommended as a strong investment. The date of this edition is not so old and our grandfathers are feverishly searching into the shoeboxes of their youth. The population of PSA graded cards is growing significantly : 1,225 in December 2015, 1,392 in October 2016 (and approaching 1,600 in 2019).
The top of the scale is occupied by 3 cards graded Gem Mint 10 and 6 graded Mint 9 (these figures are still valid in 2019).
The copy for sale has beautiful colors and a remarkable lack of wear. It was brought by a visitor at the Heritage booth in a trade fair in August, 2016 and was immediately appraised by PSA. It is graded NM-MT+ 8.5.
14 examples of the 1952 Topps baseball card # 311 have been graded NM-MT 8.5 + or better by PSA. One of them was sold for $ 1.13M including premium by Heritage on November 17, 2016, lot 50786. The same copy is now estimated $ 800K in the online sale ending on December 5 by Heritage, lot 51027.
I narrated it as follows in 2016 (2019 data included) :
The first part of the series of baseball cards published by Topps in 1952, numbers 1 to 310, inaugurated the modern style with a colorful and pleasant image and a good information on the back about the player.
Topps wanted to keep going but their extension of the 1952 series, numbers 311 to 407, was not released on suitable time. Their informations concerning the records of the players being already obsolete, the distribution was limited and the cards that remained unsold in the stock of the publisher were destroyed in mass a few years later.
The first card of this second part, bearing the number 311, maintains a high excitement in the hobby. It is not the earliest baseball card of Mickey Mantle but it may be considered as his rookie card.
Mickey Mantle is that young player who was iconic of the postwar American dream. Owning a high grade 1952-311 card is currently recommended as a strong investment. The date of this edition is not so old and our grandfathers are feverishly searching into the shoeboxes of their youth. The population of PSA graded cards is growing significantly : 1,225 in December 2015, 1,392 in October 2016 (and approaching 1,600 in 2019).
The top of the scale is occupied by 3 cards graded Gem Mint 10 and 6 graded Mint 9 (these figures are still valid in 2019).
The copy for sale has beautiful colors and a remarkable lack of wear. It was brought by a visitor at the Heritage booth in a trade fair in August, 2016 and was immediately appraised by PSA. It is graded NM-MT+ 8.5.
1979 Gretzky by O-Pee-Chee and Topps
2020 SOLD for $ 1.3M including premium
O-Pee-Chee was a candy maker based in London, Ontario. The company entered the baseball and ice hockey trading cards market in 1934. In 1958 an agreement is concluded with the US company Topps for coordinated operations. Topps cards have an English back and O-Pee-Chee cards are bilingual.
Wayne Gretzky is hockey's super-champion, and his rookie cards published in 1979 by both companies are avidly sought after by collectors. The O-Pee-Chee is the rarest.
The text on the back of the card announces the future great career of the champion : he is "the best prospect to turn professional since Guy Lafleur".
Gretzky had entered the NHL before the legal age of that league for a conjunctural cause. He had played the 1978-1979 season as a professional at 17 with the WHA which was absorbed at the end of that season by the NHL. The WHA had no age limit.
The population of Wayne Gretzky's rookie cards in PSA supreme grade Gem Mint 10 is two units for the O-Pee-Chee and two for the Topps. Heritage lists one example of each in the online sale that ends on December 10.
The O-Pee-Chee gem mint had been sold for $ 94K including premium by SCP Auctions on May 1, 2011 and for $ 465K including premium by Goldin on August 4, 2016, lot 25. It was then the only O-Pee-Chee Gretzky rookie card known in that grade. It is estimated $ 1M by Heritage, lot 58423. The Topps is estimated $ 400K, lot 58422.
A sealed box of 48 packs of 14 1979 O-Pee-Chee cards each is estimated $ 75K, lot 58446.
In the same sale on December 11, a PSA Mint 9 of the same O-Pee-Chee is estimated $ 50K, lot 58747 and another sealed box is estimated $ 100K, lot 58861.
RESULTS including premium
O-Pee-Chee Gem Mint SOLD for $ 1.3M
Topps Gem Mint SOLD for $ 720K
O-Pee-Chee Mint SOLD for $ 84K
sealed boxes SOLD for $ 114K and $ 250K
Wayne Gretzky is hockey's super-champion, and his rookie cards published in 1979 by both companies are avidly sought after by collectors. The O-Pee-Chee is the rarest.
The text on the back of the card announces the future great career of the champion : he is "the best prospect to turn professional since Guy Lafleur".
Gretzky had entered the NHL before the legal age of that league for a conjunctural cause. He had played the 1978-1979 season as a professional at 17 with the WHA which was absorbed at the end of that season by the NHL. The WHA had no age limit.
The population of Wayne Gretzky's rookie cards in PSA supreme grade Gem Mint 10 is two units for the O-Pee-Chee and two for the Topps. Heritage lists one example of each in the online sale that ends on December 10.
The O-Pee-Chee gem mint had been sold for $ 94K including premium by SCP Auctions on May 1, 2011 and for $ 465K including premium by Goldin on August 4, 2016, lot 25. It was then the only O-Pee-Chee Gretzky rookie card known in that grade. It is estimated $ 1M by Heritage, lot 58423. The Topps is estimated $ 400K, lot 58422.
A sealed box of 48 packs of 14 1979 O-Pee-Chee cards each is estimated $ 75K, lot 58446.
In the same sale on December 11, a PSA Mint 9 of the same O-Pee-Chee is estimated $ 50K, lot 58747 and another sealed box is estimated $ 100K, lot 58861.
RESULTS including premium
O-Pee-Chee Gem Mint SOLD for $ 1.3M
Topps Gem Mint SOLD for $ 720K
O-Pee-Chee Mint SOLD for $ 84K
sealed boxes SOLD for $ 114K and $ 250K
1986 Fleer on Basketball
2020 SOLD for $ 1.8M including premium
Despite NBA support, the basketball cards had fallen into disuse. Topps had abandoned this sport after the 1981-82 season. The series released in 1986 for the 1986-87 season by Fleer, the maker of bubble gum, is a resurrection.
Because of this hiatus, many young players had not yet had a regular trading card and their 1986 Fleer is considered by collectors as their rookie card. They include Michael Jordan who had begun his NBA career in 1984.
In 2020 Jordan's glory is at its peak, driven by the success of the television documentary series named The Last Dance. Collectors are flocking to his rookie card, although it is not uncommon including about 300 cards graded Gem Mint.
A card graded Gem Mint 10 by PSA was sold for $ 96K including premium by Heritage on May 8, 2020, breaking by far the previous record set 19 days earlier by the same auction house. Another copy of the same grade will be sold online by Heritage on July 30, lot 56540.
The 1986-87 Fleer series consists of 132 cards and 11 stickers. On July 30 in the same sale as above, a complete set fully graded 10 by PSA is estimated $ 200K, lot 56545.
For retail, Fleer offered packs of 12 random-inserted cards and one sticker, not to forget the bubble gum. For wholesale, Fleer assembled boxes of 36 packs and cases of 12 boxes. In the same next sale by Heritage, a box whose content has been reconstituted with 36 unopened packs is estimated $ 80K, lot 56605. The list of stickers is identified in the catalog.
On August 6 online, Collect Auctions sells as lot 31 a factory sealed case. The lot therefore contains 5,184 cards and 432 stickers which have not been handled after their packaging. Statistically, bidders can thus hope to find therein in as new condition 39 cards and 39 stickers of the Jordan rookie. The bidding exceeded $ 1M on the first day (July 13) and continues to increase.
RESULTS including premium
Collect Auctions (case) : SOLD for $ 1.8M
Heritage : SOLD for $ 216K (complete set), $ 90K (box), $ 75K (Jordan card)
Because of this hiatus, many young players had not yet had a regular trading card and their 1986 Fleer is considered by collectors as their rookie card. They include Michael Jordan who had begun his NBA career in 1984.
In 2020 Jordan's glory is at its peak, driven by the success of the television documentary series named The Last Dance. Collectors are flocking to his rookie card, although it is not uncommon including about 300 cards graded Gem Mint.
A card graded Gem Mint 10 by PSA was sold for $ 96K including premium by Heritage on May 8, 2020, breaking by far the previous record set 19 days earlier by the same auction house. Another copy of the same grade will be sold online by Heritage on July 30, lot 56540.
The 1986-87 Fleer series consists of 132 cards and 11 stickers. On July 30 in the same sale as above, a complete set fully graded 10 by PSA is estimated $ 200K, lot 56545.
For retail, Fleer offered packs of 12 random-inserted cards and one sticker, not to forget the bubble gum. For wholesale, Fleer assembled boxes of 36 packs and cases of 12 boxes. In the same next sale by Heritage, a box whose content has been reconstituted with 36 unopened packs is estimated $ 80K, lot 56605. The list of stickers is identified in the catalog.
On August 6 online, Collect Auctions sells as lot 31 a factory sealed case. The lot therefore contains 5,184 cards and 432 stickers which have not been handled after their packaging. Statistically, bidders can thus hope to find therein in as new condition 39 cards and 39 stickers of the Jordan rookie. The bidding exceeded $ 1M on the first day (July 13) and continues to increase.
RESULTS including premium
Collect Auctions (case) : SOLD for $ 1.8M
Heritage : SOLD for $ 216K (complete set), $ 90K (box), $ 75K (Jordan card)
1997 Metal Jordan
2020 SOLD for $ 920K including premium
Collectors of contemporary trading cards love baseball and basketball, rookie cards, Michael Jordan and the top rarities.
Regarding the illusion of luxury, the impetus was given in 1997 by the very ephemeral brand Metal Universe, publisher of the Basketball Precious Metal Gems series for the seasons 1997-98 and 1998-99 and Championship Basketball in 1997-98 . Ten years later Upper Deck attempted to re-establish the brand.
The first two Precious Metal Gems editions featured 123 players each, with a photo in action on the front and a portrait on the back. The front was printed on a sheet of metal. The edition was serialized from 1 to 10 with an image on an "emerald" green background and from 11 to 100 with a red background.
This construction generated a weakness, with wear on the edges of the metal affecting a large proportion of the cards. PSA does not grade these damaged cards, even when the image remains intact. However, this company checks the authenticity.
The population of ten Michael Jordan 1997 Precious Metal Gem Green cards attracts much desire. Two of them were graded EX-MT + 6.5 by PSA and one EX-MT 6.
Two cards rated Authentic by PSA were sold on eBay, # 1 in 2015 and # 6 in 2019. Their prices, exceptional in their time, can be forgotten following the craze of 2020 for all the artefacts relating to Jordan .
On December 10, in an online auction, Heritage sells at lot 58088 the card # 9, guaranteed Authentic (but not identified as Altered) by PSA. The estimate, $ 500K, is already exceeded.
Regarding the illusion of luxury, the impetus was given in 1997 by the very ephemeral brand Metal Universe, publisher of the Basketball Precious Metal Gems series for the seasons 1997-98 and 1998-99 and Championship Basketball in 1997-98 . Ten years later Upper Deck attempted to re-establish the brand.
The first two Precious Metal Gems editions featured 123 players each, with a photo in action on the front and a portrait on the back. The front was printed on a sheet of metal. The edition was serialized from 1 to 10 with an image on an "emerald" green background and from 11 to 100 with a red background.
This construction generated a weakness, with wear on the edges of the metal affecting a large proportion of the cards. PSA does not grade these damaged cards, even when the image remains intact. However, this company checks the authenticity.
The population of ten Michael Jordan 1997 Precious Metal Gem Green cards attracts much desire. Two of them were graded EX-MT + 6.5 by PSA and one EX-MT 6.
Two cards rated Authentic by PSA were sold on eBay, # 1 in 2015 and # 6 in 2019. Their prices, exceptional in their time, can be forgotten following the craze of 2020 for all the artefacts relating to Jordan .
On December 10, in an online auction, Heritage sells at lot 58088 the card # 9, guaranteed Authentic (but not identified as Altered) by PSA. The estimate, $ 500K, is already exceeded.
2003 Investment in Basketball
2020 SOLD for $ 1.85M including premium
Sports card collectors have not stopped loving the old glories. The most sought-after items are rarities in their own series, like the T206 Wagner or the 1952 Topps of Mickey Mantle. The cards kept in the best condition have been attracting investors for a few years.
Modern editors like Upper Deck and Topps add goodies that allow them to offer limited editions with a separate serialization. They may include the integration in the card of an element from another category of collectibles, such as the autograph signature of the player or a piece of his jersey. There can also be only a tiny difference in the design of the card.
The new collector-investor will want to constitute for a model of his choice a complete set of all the variants, and in the best possible condition.
Basketball has joined baseball as America's favorite sport. In 2003 Upper Deck launched its Exquisite Collection trademark without forgetting an Exquisite Rookie Patch identification for the rookies. The front side includes a photo of the player, his signature, the piece of his jersey and the serial number in the specific variant. The back includes another photo, Upper Deck's guarantee of authenticity of signature and jersey, and the NBA logo.
2003-2004 is also the rookie season of LeBron James. His Exquisite Rookie Patch is the high end of all basketball cards, especially since Upper Deck had overtaken Topps and Fleer by obtaining the exclusivity of his autograph on a card for that season.
The basic version of LeBron James' Exquisite Rookie Patch was edited in 99 copies. The card 05/99, graded Mint 9 by BGS, was sold for $ 264K including premium by Heritage on February 22, 2020.
A very similar variant identified as Rookie Patch Parallel is rarer with only 23 copies. The card 16/23, graded NM/MT+ 8.5 by BGS, was sold for $ 264K including premium by Goldin in October 2019.
The card 14/23, graded Gem Mint 9.5 by BGS, is the highest graded in the group. It is listed as lot 12 in the online sale by Goldin which will end on July 18. 23 days before closing, the highest bid is at $ 750K.
With another photo of the player and no piece of jersey, the unique card 1/1 Upper Deck Ultimate Collection of James in his rookie year, graded Mint 9 by PSA, was sold for $ 312K by Goldin in 2016.
Modern editors like Upper Deck and Topps add goodies that allow them to offer limited editions with a separate serialization. They may include the integration in the card of an element from another category of collectibles, such as the autograph signature of the player or a piece of his jersey. There can also be only a tiny difference in the design of the card.
The new collector-investor will want to constitute for a model of his choice a complete set of all the variants, and in the best possible condition.
Basketball has joined baseball as America's favorite sport. In 2003 Upper Deck launched its Exquisite Collection trademark without forgetting an Exquisite Rookie Patch identification for the rookies. The front side includes a photo of the player, his signature, the piece of his jersey and the serial number in the specific variant. The back includes another photo, Upper Deck's guarantee of authenticity of signature and jersey, and the NBA logo.
2003-2004 is also the rookie season of LeBron James. His Exquisite Rookie Patch is the high end of all basketball cards, especially since Upper Deck had overtaken Topps and Fleer by obtaining the exclusivity of his autograph on a card for that season.
The basic version of LeBron James' Exquisite Rookie Patch was edited in 99 copies. The card 05/99, graded Mint 9 by BGS, was sold for $ 264K including premium by Heritage on February 22, 2020.
A very similar variant identified as Rookie Patch Parallel is rarer with only 23 copies. The card 16/23, graded NM/MT+ 8.5 by BGS, was sold for $ 264K including premium by Goldin in October 2019.
The card 14/23, graded Gem Mint 9.5 by BGS, is the highest graded in the group. It is listed as lot 12 in the online sale by Goldin which will end on July 18. 23 days before closing, the highest bid is at $ 750K.
With another photo of the player and no piece of jersey, the unique card 1/1 Upper Deck Ultimate Collection of James in his rookie year, graded Mint 9 by PSA, was sold for $ 312K by Goldin in 2016.
2003 RPA or RPP
2020 SOLD for $ 1.1M including premium
The interest of bidders in contemporary trading cards is altogether new, intense and lasting. The characteristics of this new market are not yet stabilized.
The two highest priced cards are LeBron James' Upper Deck Exquisite Collection 2003-04 and Mike Trout's 2009 Topps Refractor. They have some common features. They relate to players in their rookie year. Both champions are active. The cards are from prestige editions with variants, the production run of the variant is identified and each card is serialized. They have one notable difference : they do not concern the same sport.
The Upper Deck Exquisite is composite, with the player's photo, his autograph signature and a small piece of his jersey. The two variants RPA (Rookie Patch Autograph) and RPP (Rookie Patch Parallel) are differentiated by the position of the piece of fabric. The RPA is edited in 99 copies and the RPP in 23 copies.
In comparable condition, collectors and investors will prefer the more limited series. The LeBron James RPP 14/23 rookie card which was sold for $ 1.85M including premium on July 18, 2020 by Goldin is rated Gem Mint 9.5 by BGS. The rating breakdown is provided by BGS : Centering: 9.5, Corners: 9, Edges: 9.5, Surface: 9.5.
Goldin's online sale to close on August 22 includes two examples of the same card.
The RPP 16/23 is graded NM/MT 8.5+ by BGS because of edges graded at 8, compensated by an excellent centering at 9.5. It was sold for $ 264K including premium by Goldin in October 2019, lot 241. Listed as lot 20 in the next sale, it has already far exceeded its price from last year.
Less than two weeks before the closing of the sale, the bidders prefer the RPA 02/99, listed as lot 3. It is graded Gem Mint 9.5 by BGS with details as follows : Centering: 9.5, Corners: 9, Edges: 9.5, Surface: 10.
All of the above examples have perfect autograph signatures, graded 10 by BGS.
RESULTS including premium
Lot 3 : SOLD for $ 1.1M
Lot 20 : SOLD for $ 550K
The two highest priced cards are LeBron James' Upper Deck Exquisite Collection 2003-04 and Mike Trout's 2009 Topps Refractor. They have some common features. They relate to players in their rookie year. Both champions are active. The cards are from prestige editions with variants, the production run of the variant is identified and each card is serialized. They have one notable difference : they do not concern the same sport.
The Upper Deck Exquisite is composite, with the player's photo, his autograph signature and a small piece of his jersey. The two variants RPA (Rookie Patch Autograph) and RPP (Rookie Patch Parallel) are differentiated by the position of the piece of fabric. The RPA is edited in 99 copies and the RPP in 23 copies.
In comparable condition, collectors and investors will prefer the more limited series. The LeBron James RPP 14/23 rookie card which was sold for $ 1.85M including premium on July 18, 2020 by Goldin is rated Gem Mint 9.5 by BGS. The rating breakdown is provided by BGS : Centering: 9.5, Corners: 9, Edges: 9.5, Surface: 9.5.
Goldin's online sale to close on August 22 includes two examples of the same card.
The RPP 16/23 is graded NM/MT 8.5+ by BGS because of edges graded at 8, compensated by an excellent centering at 9.5. It was sold for $ 264K including premium by Goldin in October 2019, lot 241. Listed as lot 20 in the next sale, it has already far exceeded its price from last year.
Less than two weeks before the closing of the sale, the bidders prefer the RPA 02/99, listed as lot 3. It is graded Gem Mint 9.5 by BGS with details as follows : Centering: 9.5, Corners: 9, Edges: 9.5, Surface: 10.
All of the above examples have perfect autograph signatures, graded 10 by BGS.
RESULTS including premium
Lot 3 : SOLD for $ 1.1M
Lot 20 : SOLD for $ 550K
2009 The Lottery of Baseball
2020 SOLD for $ 3.94M including premium
The era of dull cards ended for Topps in 1993 when this publisher added a reflective layer to the front side of its trading cards. A specific card is now edited in several variants. Small series are serialized. The colored framing around the image provides the visual information of the production run of its variant. Bowman and Refractor are trademarks of Topps.
The cards were randomly distributed by the publisher in the original packaging. Their discovery is a game akin to the lottery. In events announced in advance by specialist companies, a client opens an old box that is still sealed. When one of them gets his hands on a holy grail, the video of the event is a good marketing incentive for the operator.
The most popular cards are those of the rookies. The most promising have the whole range of variants, including the Red Refractor in five copies. At the top of this hierarchy is the 2009 Bowman Chrome Draft Prospect of Mike Trout, who will be the best baseball player of his generation.
On May 22, 2020, Goldin sold for $ 920K including premium the 2009 Red Refractor 5/5 of Mike Trout, graded Gem Mint 9.5 by BGS with an autograph signature graded 10 by Beckett.
Can do better !
The Red Refractor, despite its limited edition, is not the top of the range. Here is the Superfractor. The player's photo is layered with a reflective pattern that provides a glitter. Several Superfractor variants of the same card can coexist but each piece is unique in its variant, and serialized 1/1.
In an online sale closing on August 22, Goldin sells as lot 1 a Superfractor 1/1 of the rookie card of Mike Trout. It is graded Mint 9 by BGS with an autograph signature graded 10 by Beckett. The starting bid was $ 1M.
The cards were randomly distributed by the publisher in the original packaging. Their discovery is a game akin to the lottery. In events announced in advance by specialist companies, a client opens an old box that is still sealed. When one of them gets his hands on a holy grail, the video of the event is a good marketing incentive for the operator.
The most popular cards are those of the rookies. The most promising have the whole range of variants, including the Red Refractor in five copies. At the top of this hierarchy is the 2009 Bowman Chrome Draft Prospect of Mike Trout, who will be the best baseball player of his generation.
On May 22, 2020, Goldin sold for $ 920K including premium the 2009 Red Refractor 5/5 of Mike Trout, graded Gem Mint 9.5 by BGS with an autograph signature graded 10 by Beckett.
Can do better !
The Red Refractor, despite its limited edition, is not the top of the range. Here is the Superfractor. The player's photo is layered with a reflective pattern that provides a glitter. Several Superfractor variants of the same card can coexist but each piece is unique in its variant, and serialized 1/1.
In an online sale closing on August 22, Goldin sells as lot 1 a Superfractor 1/1 of the rookie card of Mike Trout. It is graded Mint 9 by BGS with an autograph signature graded 10 by Beckett. The starting bid was $ 1M.
2009 Red Refractor for Mike Trout
2020 SOLD for $ 920K including premium
The memory of sport is no longer just an artifact of the past. The US publishers of trading cards make their items visually more appealing. Very small productions include the player's autograph signature, and sometimes a small piece of the jersey, a lock of hair and a short video. The most popular sports today are baseball and basketball.
The enthusiasm of collectors for this range of products is very recent. As with the old cards, the rookie seasons of the top players in their major leagues are especially sought after. A LeBron James rookie patch edited by the Upper Deck Company for the 2003-2004 NBA season was sold for $ 264K including premium by Goldin in October 2019.
In 1993 Topps introduced the Refractor, which is a protected designation of the brand. The player's photo is framed by a colored chrome strip. The rainbow is reached by a collector when he has the whole set of colors of the same card. Only five units of a specific model have a Red Refractor. They are serialized from 1/5 to 5/5.
They don't even wait for a promising champion to start his professional career. In 2009 the baseball player Mike Trout, 18, had just been selected as a Drafted prospect by the Los Angeles Angels. His card has been published by Topps in the Bowman Chrome series.
The Trout rookie Red Refractor card 5/5 is in near perfect condition, graded Gem Mint 9.5 by BGS (Beckett Grading) and 10 for the autograph signature, also by Beckett. It is for sale by Goldin as lot 218 in an online sale which should have been closed on May 17 but has been paused for an Internet server problem.
Mike Trout stayed with the Angels. In 2019, he signed for twelve years the most expensive contract in the history of US sport, $ 426M.
The enthusiasm of collectors for this range of products is very recent. As with the old cards, the rookie seasons of the top players in their major leagues are especially sought after. A LeBron James rookie patch edited by the Upper Deck Company for the 2003-2004 NBA season was sold for $ 264K including premium by Goldin in October 2019.
In 1993 Topps introduced the Refractor, which is a protected designation of the brand. The player's photo is framed by a colored chrome strip. The rainbow is reached by a collector when he has the whole set of colors of the same card. Only five units of a specific model have a Red Refractor. They are serialized from 1/5 to 5/5.
They don't even wait for a promising champion to start his professional career. In 2009 the baseball player Mike Trout, 18, had just been selected as a Drafted prospect by the Los Angeles Angels. His card has been published by Topps in the Bowman Chrome series.
The Trout rookie Red Refractor card 5/5 is in near perfect condition, graded Gem Mint 9.5 by BGS (Beckett Grading) and 10 for the autograph signature, also by Beckett. It is for sale by Goldin as lot 218 in an online sale which should have been closed on May 17 but has been paused for an Internet server problem.
Mike Trout stayed with the Angels. In 2019, he signed for twelve years the most expensive contract in the history of US sport, $ 426M.
2013 The Greek Giant
2020 SOLD for $ 1.85M including premium
Basketball provides exemplary cases that make young people dream of an irresistible social rise.
Giannis Antetokounmpo is one of the most complete players of all time, both in offense and defense. He is helped by his height, 2.11m, and his exceptional span, 2.36m, but this giant nicknamed the Greek Freak is also very athletic and very agile.
He was born stateless to Nigerian parents, in the suburbs of Athens. His official name is a poor transcription when he acquired Greek nationality at his coming of age. His original name is Adetokunbo. He had started his life as an irregular street vendor.
The rules of the drafts of the NBA accept foreigners. Although coming from a lower division Greek club, he was placed 15th in the 1st round in 2013, hired by the Milwaukee Bucks. He made his Bucks debut on October 13, 2013, becoming at under 19 one of the youngest players in NBA history.
The Bucks managed to keep him, with substantial pay increases. His progress is spectacular and puts his team at the top level. On March 17, 2019 he scored 52 points in a single game. On December 16 he had 18 successful goals out of 31 attempted.
Panini has since 2009 the exclusive license of the NBA for the trading cars and stickers. In an online sale that ends on September 20, Goldin sells as lot 1 the National Treasures Horizontal RPA rookie card of Giannis Antetokounmpo edited by Panini for the 2013-14 season. This horizontal card numbered One of One shows on the left a photo of the player, on the right his autograph signature and in the middle the NBA logoman cut out from one of his jerseys. It was graded Mint 9 by BGS.
Giannis Antetokounmpo is one of the most complete players of all time, both in offense and defense. He is helped by his height, 2.11m, and his exceptional span, 2.36m, but this giant nicknamed the Greek Freak is also very athletic and very agile.
He was born stateless to Nigerian parents, in the suburbs of Athens. His official name is a poor transcription when he acquired Greek nationality at his coming of age. His original name is Adetokunbo. He had started his life as an irregular street vendor.
The rules of the drafts of the NBA accept foreigners. Although coming from a lower division Greek club, he was placed 15th in the 1st round in 2013, hired by the Milwaukee Bucks. He made his Bucks debut on October 13, 2013, becoming at under 19 one of the youngest players in NBA history.
The Bucks managed to keep him, with substantial pay increases. His progress is spectacular and puts his team at the top level. On March 17, 2019 he scored 52 points in a single game. On December 16 he had 18 successful goals out of 31 attempted.
Panini has since 2009 the exclusive license of the NBA for the trading cars and stickers. In an online sale that ends on September 20, Goldin sells as lot 1 the National Treasures Horizontal RPA rookie card of Giannis Antetokounmpo edited by Panini for the 2013-14 season. This horizontal card numbered One of One shows on the left a photo of the player, on the right his autograph signature and in the middle the NBA logoman cut out from one of his jerseys. It was graded Mint 9 by BGS.
2013 Giannis Antetokounmpo Panini Rookie Card
2020 SOLD for $ 1.17M including premium by Goldin
Link to catalogue.
